OASYS looks better and has bigger display, and pretty and useful LEDs behind sliders and knobs. It's a lot more to haul around.

Hardware-wise, both OASYS and Kronos have EXACTLY THE SAME D/A CONVERTERS. Kronos has two more engines, for better pianos and electric pianos. Kronos has SSD, OASYS doesn't. Kronos streams samples from the SSD, OASYS doesn't. Kronos has less outputs and pedal inputs than OASYS. Kronos has seamless patch transition no matter how many effects you use, OASYS doesn't.

Wait to buy the new Kurzweil or go buy a Norg Stage 2 and you can
get all their samples for free. Just take a look at all the samples you can
put into the Nord Stage 2 on their page and they are always adding more.
Plus you can make your own sample with it.
The NORD Stage 2 even adjust its attack point on the keys when you switch over to a organ sound say B3 so it feels like playing a real organ. You can
do the slides across the keys with no problem.

after seeing this video, i'm kind of turned off by korg. forgetting about the timid hipster playing (constantly on Karma Mode too ), the pianos/electric pianos sound so much more thin than the nord (which kills) and the kurzweil (solid).

you wouldn't consider the nord stage 2 or the kurzweil pc3k? the pc3k is compatible with the legacy kurzweil k2 series as well.

but if i had to choose between your 2 choices.. oasys. wayy more appeal and the ambitiousness of it along with it being discontinued makes it more attractive IMO. very very big synth/workstation. and yeah it looks better.

Damn, everybody seems to post that video, which isn't the best comparison of the three boards at all. First of all, Nord Stage 2 has NOTHING to do here being compared to Kurz or Korg workstations. It's not a workstation, it's way overpriced for what it is, and it just simply cannot do about 90% of what Kurz and Korg can. It does sound meaty, though, but is not the end all be all.

Moreover, Kronos sounds better than that. The player is bad. Probably the recording chain was different. Now, if that video was played on all three boards with the same player and through the same recording chain, it would be a much better reference than it currently is (not).

that being said, i've never really liked korg's workstations. They seam cheap and overpriced, but thats subjective.

Compared to what?? Have you priced a Motif XF lately?

I've had a lot of time spent on an M3, considered by many to be the "eww" KORG workstation, and I think it's fantastic, especially with the Radias expansion. The sliders are a little wiggly, but if you want to Reznor out and stand on your synth, I can't see any synth surviving too well.

I've heard more people remark about how fine the Kronos build quality is over those who don't like it. And I just can't see a Nord being better than a Kronos at much of anything, except being excessively bright. I like the Nord Modulars, and the Chamberlin samples for the Stages, and the Hammond modeling is cool - with drawbars, but other than that they sound rather chilly to me. The Kronos piano voice architecture sounds amazing, the number of synth engines available are staggering, as are the stupid number of effects you can stack and route like a studio rack. What other synth can have 12 of the best reverbs running at once, and without hiccups? AND while transitioning between patches?

The PC3 is cool, but parts of the architecture are VERY poorly implemented, seemingly designed by engineers for engineers, and no Kurzweil manual will be of any help with some of the functions. Plus many of the samples are extremely compressed. Still, outside of the Kronos, it's as close to a baby Synclavier as you can get, and it mangles sound like a shredder.

I know it depends on what style of music you do, and sound is always a matter of taste. But among all the synths out these days other than the Accelerator and Sonic Core/Solaris stuff, or a real modular, the two best seem to be the Jupiter-80 and Kronos in my not so humble opinion. Every rompler and synth does something that will touch someone's pleasure center or they wouldn't be out, but this is my call on the field.

Oasys is built like a tank, has quality controllers and a larger touchscreen.

The keyboard of the OASYS-88 is an expensive high-end quality keyboard, custom made for Korg by Fatar. It offers an excellent playing feel and connection between player and sound and is one of the best I know. The 76 semi-weighted key OASYS has an excellent Yamaha keyboard.

The Kronos' RH-3 keyboard instead is based on the former Technics design and is obviously cheaper to produce and the build quality and playability is of course not comparable with the Fatar.

By everything I've read so far on the web, it is confirmed that at least the sample based HD-1 engine of the OASYS and Kronos sound identical in quality. But this was never confirmed concerning the synth engines like the MS-20 EX.

As it is known and confirmed by 1:1 comparisons by different users (like myself), the MS-20 EX (48 voices poly) of the OASYS has the much better sound (and also much more options), than the Legacy Collection MS-20 for PC/Mac.

Unfortunately, I never had the chance so far to make a 1:1 comparison between the Kronos' and OASYS' MS-20 EX, but I had several chances to play the Kronos with my own AKG headphones and I could swear, that the OASYS' MS-20 EX (which I use almost every day) has the much better and more direct and brutal sound (closer to the original), than the Kronos MS-20 EX's, which appeared to be similar to the Legacy Collection MS-20 for PC/Mac.

Hopefully someone will make a 1:1 comparison between the Kronos and OASYS MS-20 EX and post some sound samples on this forum, which will show, if I was right or just biased, because even good trained ears can fail in certain situations..

Finally my recommendation:

If you care more about the synth engines/sound design and less about the acoustic piano (still very good on the OASYS with 0.5 GB waves) and e-piano (still excellent on the OASYS), I highly recommend the OASYS, due to its superior UI. Otherwise take the Kronos, but don't buy the 88 or 73 hammer key version, but the 61 synth key version and a good 88 key master keyboard instead...

Oasys is built like a tank, has quality controllers and a larger touchscreen.

The keyboard of the OASYS-88 is an expensive high-end quality keyboard, custom made for Korg by Fatar. It offers an excellent playing feel and connection between player and sound and is one of the best I know.

The Kronos' RH-3 keyboard instead is based on the former Technics design and is obviously cheaper to produce and the build quality and playability is of course not comparable with the Fatar.

By everything I've read so far on the web, it is confirmed that at least the sample based HD-1 engine of the OASYS and Kronos sound identical in quality. But this was never confirmed concerning the synth engines like the MS-20 EX.

As it is known and confirmed by 1:1 comparisons by different users (like myself), the MS-20 EX (48 voices poly) of the OASYS has the much better sound (and also much more options), than the Legacy Collection MS-20 for PC/Mac.

Unfortunately, I never had the chance so far to make a 1:1 comparison between the Kronos' and OASYS' MS-20 EX, but I had several chances to play the Kronos with my own AKG headphones and I could swear, that the OASYS' MS-20 EX (which I use almost every day) has the much better and more direct and brutal sound (closer to the original), than the Kronos MS-20 EX's, which appeared to be similar to the Legacy Collection MS-20 for PC/Mac.

Hopefully someone will make a 1:1 comparison between the Kronos and OASYS MS-20 EX and post some sound samples on this forum, which will show, if I was right or just biased, because even good trained ears can fail in certain situations..

Finally my recommendation:

If you care more about the synth engines/sound design and less about the acoustic piano (still very good on the OASYS with 0.5 GB waves) and e-piano (still excellent on the OASYS), I highly recommend the OASYS, due to its superior UI. Otherwise take the Kronos, but don't buy the 88 or 73 hammer key version, but the 61 synth key version and a good 88 key master keyboard instead...

I think I would enjoy the OASYS more in the studio, as long as it stayed there. The re-sale might be tough though, so be sure about the OASYS.

I think I would enjoy the OASYS more in the studio, as long as it stayed there. The re-sale might be tough though, so be sure about the OASYS.

Beside the heavy weight, I've never experienced any problems with the OASYS in live use, since years. Its tank-like build quality makes the OASYS much more suitable for live use, than the cheaply built Kronos.

Current OASYS ebay prices vary between $3400 and $5600. The mentioned price of $2500 is very good, if it's in a good condition...

Beside the heavy weight, I've never experienced any problems with the OASYS in live use, since years. Its tank-like build quality makes the OASYS much more suitable for live use, than the cheaply built Kronos.

Current OASYS ebay prices vary between $3400 and $5600. The mentioned price of $2500 is very good, if it's in a good condition...

Yes, you are right it a very good deal on the used market. I just thought as time goes on it could be a very expensive piece that might be hard to get your money back out of it. That is one of the advantages of buying used right? So just make sure it is a keeper. As for live, I was simply referring to the weight and bulk issue. For a weekend warrior, it could cause problems.

It's the 76 (or is it 73?) note version.. brand new in store.. just played in store for $2500... they may even take an offer on it... Played Kronos with headphones only and have had a blast with some of the multi patches and piano sounds... but the expressiveness of the OASYS is amazing.. violins are SOOO dynamic... just thinking the price really makes this tempting...

i'm thinking this would sit in the studio more than coming out to gigs..

The OASYS also has built in CD drive and has hardware pads (can be set up to trigger almost anything) - the Kronos doesn't have a CD drive and has software pads.

I really don't have anything good to say about the Kronos. It is a cheap rip-off of a superior machine. Korg disappointed a large portion of the OASYS community. Then Korg says that the Kronos 'changes the game' - how? It's the same as the OASYS with a couple of extra engines (and even that's dubious - piano and EPs are hardly engines). Yes, they introduced SSD which saves time loading up samples. Big wow. However they reduced the screen size using the exact same interface as the OASYS meaning that the buttons are smaller and some folks have to use a pointer/stylus/pen to 'touch' the screen.

Korg cut every corner they could with the Kronos - leading to the much vaunted 88-key cutout problems. You also have to transport the Kronos with card spacers between the keys and the outer frame...

And the Kronos also features a 1995 sequencer.

I'd go with the OASYS every time - it can be trusted. The same cannot be said for the Kronos - or Korg for that matter.

The OASYS also has built in CD drive and has hardware pads (can be set up to trigger almost anything) - the Kronos doesn't have a CD drive and has software pads.

I really don't have anything good to say about the Kronos. It is a cheap rip-off of a superior machine. Korg disappointed a large portion of the OASYS community. Then Korg says that the Kronos 'changes the game' - how? It's the same as the OASYS with a couple of extra engines (and even that's dubious - piano and EPs are hardly engines). Yes, they introduced SSD which saves time loading up samples. Big wow. However they reduced the screen size using the exact same interface as the OASYS meaning that the buttons are smaller and some folks have to use a pointer/stylus/pen to 'touch' the screen.

Korg cut every corner they could with the Kronos - leading to the much vaunted 88-key cutout problems. You also have to transport the Kronos with card spacers between the keys and the outer frame...

And the Kronos also features a 1995 sequencer.

I'd go with the OASYS every time - it can be trusted. The same cannot be said for the Kronos - or Korg for that matter.

The OASYS was advertised with the promise of "...new synthesis methods for creating sound (EXi Expansion Instruments), new effects (EXf Expansion Effects), and additional ROM libraries (EXs Expansion Sample Libraries) that can be added to the sonically-rich choices already in the OASYS, ensuring that OASYS will remain the centerpiece of your musical world well into the future...“

But the new Korg management decided to abandon the OASYS and its promised support too early, in favor of the Kronos development.

The OASYS was the last exponent of the extraordinary legacy, spirit and philosophy from the great KORG founder Tsutomu Katoh, who left us too early.

"...It is difficult to mention future products, because everything is changing so quickly. However, I have my desires and dreams for products. As a manufacturer supplying tools to create music, I would always like to make products that make musicians really happy..."

"...I always dream of providing useful instruments. Even if the scale is small, a company that can produce unique products is still my ideal. It would be the most desirable situation if we could enable musicians to create works that did not exist before, or if we could invent a new musical style by making unique instruments. We know that other companies copy our products, but I always say to our employees, 'learning from other companies' products is OK, but do not make copies - think and produce your own ideas.'..."

"...I do not think any of the conventional hardware products or software synths which are now in fashion have reached their ultimate form. So inside Korg we are trying to seek the form that is easiest to use without regard to the boundaries of hardware and software..."

PS: The flaw shown in this video isn't a problem of quality control, but a design principle of the Kronos, intended by Korg under the new management.